30×30 update
June 11, 2012
Ok so I am now 4 months in to my 30 by 30 challenge and have 9 more to go (remember I started a month before my birthday? Yeah I cheated….).
The goals are on a huge poster board in my kitchen so I see them frequently and am able to update them as I complete them.
There have been several edits to the goals. All approved by the recently appointed 30×30 commissioner Nathan. Edits are as shown below.Updates also posted.
1 Start 1 business- Not yet- the bake shop has received no paying order yet (but it isn’t like I am taking paying orders yet…)
2 Plant a garden during 2 planting seasons- Summer garden planted! Will need to plant this fall
3 Enter 3 baked goods in the fair (at least 3)- try for state fair this year- Doesn’t happen till August so can’t work on this yet.
4 Sew 4 projects (curtains (see #18) don’t count)- Blah. Nothing. Office is set up so I can get my sewing machine out.
5 Run or cycle in 5 (gasp!) races/events- First race is this Saturday June 16th. I will be walking/running as I am still nursing my IT band injury. Butte to Butte on the 4th of July is next.
6 Play ding dong ditch at 6 friends’ houses and leave little goodies- 1 done. They still don’t know who did it.
7 Travel to the beach 7 times- Gone twice
8 Bake 8 new cake recipes and photograph them- Two down. One more will be made this weekend.
9 Visit and shop at the farmers’ market 9 times- Gone 5 times. I own this one seeing as I am going twice a week…
10 Perfect 10 french macaroon flavors- Made vanilla bean ones that were a disaster. The chocolate ones I just made were tasty but were a failure in execution.
11 Make 11 new crock pot meals- None yet. Will work on it more this fall.
12 Read 12 books (one a month)- Six down. Working on #7
13 Go on 13 dates (designated “This is a date”) with Nathan. Dinner out because I am too lazy to cook doesn’t count.- Three down. This is hard as leaving Little at night is too hard on me…
14 Host 14 parties or dinners in my new house- Per the 30×30 commissioner we are considering this one done. I have lost count how many parties/dinners we have had already. Not tracking it.
15 Give away 15 cupcakes to 15 different people- The 30×30 commissioner and I are at odds about this one. I hosted a party at my house and served cupcakes but he is considering it one event therefore it counts as one. Also I sent vanilla bean cupcakes to his work and he is considering I gave them to his office not to 12 people. However he saved one of those out and we gave it to his favorite food cart. So I am at 3. I should be done.
16 Go to 16 yoga classes- 0. This is hard. I can’t make it with little. The class I thought I could go to on Saturdays is actually on Sundays and that doesn’t work. I am going practice at home to fulfill this one.
17 Do 17 active/outdoorsy activities with Lincoln- running, swimming, etc.- Ten done. This is easy as I run with Little.
18 Sew, buy, or install 18 window coverings (I think that is all my windows)- 2. I can’t find curtains I like. I hate this one.
19 Give $19 (at least) to a charity- Not yet!
20 Write and mail 20 handwritten letters/postcards- Four done
21 Buy 21 lottery tickets/scratchits- Bought $5 for megamillions and won $2. Reinvested that in to a scratchit and got nothing. $7 done.
22 Buy a 22-year-old lunch- Not yet. Know a 22 year old?
23 Cook with 23 new ingredients- Seven down- Garbanzo beans, coconut oil, paste food coloring, rutabaga, sucanat, quinoa, and teff
24 Drink 24 new different beers- 11 down. Thanks to my wonderful brother in law who brings new beer by frequently.
25 Make 25 healthy lunches for Nathan to take to work- 6 down. Need to get more creative.
26 Eat vegan vegetarian for 26 days (once every other week)- Seven days done
27 Clean out my closet and give away 27 things- DONE! Hosted a clothing exchange. Got rid of so much.
28 Help Nathan create 28 niche websites Write 28 blog posts- We decided to focus my energy on the bake shop rather than Nathan’s other venture. 8 done.
29 Take 29 good pictures of Lincoln- I have counted 5 but there really are more….
30 Write out 30 recipes for my family cookbook (start it as a habit)- 8 done. I am using my blog as the place I am writting these recipes down.
426 things total to complete. I have done 141. 33% done. 30% of the way through my 30×30 time frame.
There you are. Long ways to go but I love working on it.
30 by 30
February 15, 2012
I’m getting old. I need goals. I have seen several other friends do this (as well as one of my favorite bloggers) and have decided to do one of my own- a 30 by 30 list. A list of 30 things I hope to accomplish by the time I turn 30. I intended to do this from the time I turn 29 (on March 17th) till I turn 30 but a few involve projects around my new house and I might start on them in the weeks before my birthday. Without further ado here is the list:
1 Start 1 business
2 Plant a garden during 2 planting seasons
3 Enter 3 baked goods in the fair (at least 3)- try for state fair this year
4 Sew 4 projects (curtains (see #18) don’t count)
5 Run or cycle in 5 (gasp!) races/events
6 Play ding dong ditch at 6 friends’ houses and leave little goodies
7 Travel to the beach 7 times
8 Bake 8 new cake recipes and photograph them
9 Visit and shop at the farmers’ market 9 times
10 Perfect 10 french macaroon flavors
11 Make 11 new crock pot meals
12 Read 12 books (one a month)
13 Go on 13 dates (designated “This is a date”) with Nathan. Dinner out because I am too lazy to cook doesn’t count.
14 Host 14 parties or dinners in my new house
15 Give away 15 cupcakes to 15 different people
16 Go to 16 yoga classes
17 Do 17 active/outdoorsy activities with Lincoln- running, swimming, etc.
18 Sew, buy, or install 18 window coverings (I think that is all my windows)
19 Give $19 (at least) to a charity
20 Write and mail 20 handwritten letters/postcards
21 Buy 21 lottery tickets/scratchits
22 Buy a 22-year-old lunch
23 Cook with 23 new ingredients
24 Drink 24 different beers
25 Make 25 healthy lunches for Nathan to take to work
26 Eat vegan for 26 days (once every other week)
27 Clean out my closet and give away 27 things
28 Help Nathan create 28 niche websites
29 Take 29 good pictures of Lincoln
30 Write out 30 recipes for my family cookbook (start it as a habit)
I will also be trying to blog more and will certainly be blogging about my progress on this list. It seems daunting but it will be awesome and I hope in a little over a year I can look back at this list and see all I accomplished. Even if some of them are silly.
1735 W 10th house for rent!
February 15, 2012
Nearly 1000 sq ft two bedroom home for rent. Beautiful red oak hardwood floors. Living room/dining room, large kitchen with brand new stove, one full bath on main floor, one half bath upstairs, laundry room, and pantry. New tile floors. Laundry hook ups (staking unit, gas dryer). Has a few cute built ins and lots of closet space. Off street carport parking. Sweet little urban homestead. Bring your chickens to live in the already built coop and garden to your hearts content in the available beds.
Pets on a case by case basis. $1100 a month with $1100 deposit. Six month lease then month to month (negotiable). We pay water, garbage, and electricity. You pay gas which is your heat, dryer (if you have one), and stove.
Available for move in now. Call or email- Kimmy 541-521-3803
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- Part of upstairs bedroom with built in shelves
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- Closets in the downstairs bedroom
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- Downstairs bedroom
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- Living room from a different angle
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- Front door and entryway/living room
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- Lots of counter space
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- Kitchen window looks to backyard
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- Laundry room
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- Laundry Hook Ups
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- Pantry
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- Beautiful kitchen
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- Super cute!
Ni euskalduna naiz
November 15, 2010
Me at home summer of 2009....
Who knew traveling to Boise Idaho would prompt an existential crisis? I am not writing this to whine, complain or seek sympathy. I am just looking to process… and as a journalist (at heart) this is the easiest way.
I consider myself Euskaldun (Basque). I try to claim this identity as often as I can yet often feel like a fraud when I do. Yet here in Boise at a school earlier I met some kids who knew less Euskara (Basque) than I do and have never set foot in Euskadi but are Basque because of their bloodlines. Hardly seems fair to me. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on who you look at it) I am what is called a third culture kid (TCK) meaning I am from one culture, raised in another, and am neither.
Being a TCK is frustrating and strange. Don’t get me wrong I would not have traded the opportunity to grow up in Spain for anything in the world. I loved it there and miss it. Boise and all its Basque culture is making me horribly homesick. But, my passport is a US passport meaning that, while I am homesick, that is technically not my home. Every time I explain I grew up in Spain and get asked where I was born I cringe. I feel judged that I am American yet claim another identity. I feel that the other person is thinking “oh well that isn’t much because it wasn’t that long of a period of time and it was years ago and she has a US passport.”
Other TCKs are often not much consolation. Did you know that even within TCKs there are hierarchies? If you were born abroad well then that just trumps everyone. I often feel that I “only lived in Spain for 8 years” because compared to other TCKs that isn’t very long. I feel like the light version of a TCK. Yet I hardly consider myself American. If I could claim a culture I would say I am Basque yet because I “only lived in the Basque country for 6 years” that is hardly long enough to consider that is who I am. Or is it? Who judges this?
Often when explaining about living overseas I state that I lived there for 8 years, came stateside for high school, then went abroad for another year to travel and go to school before settling at the U of O for college. I feel like the year abroad makes me seem a better TCK.
We moved to Spain, or better said Euskadi because we all know that is different from the rest of Spain, in time to start first grade. I did fourth grade in the US then did fifth and sixth in Euskadi. Seventh and eight were in Madrid and then high school was in the US. If you have known me for any length of time you have probably heard how hard it was for me to adjust to high school in the US. I wanted nothing more than to be back at home in Spain but was already at what should be my home in the US.
There are parts of me that are decidedly American and other parts of me that are decidedly Basque. The American me is a foodie, who loves expensive things, and lives life at a breakneck speed. I drink too much coffee and love a real breakfast not just a pastry and un café con leche. The Basque side of me is hospitable, loves to feed everyone around me, and cooks really really well. Not to mention I am loud, outgoing, and most of all blunt. The Basque are quite blunt and often are described as harsh or in your face. I challenge you to say that doesn’t describe me.
One issue left to address are my tattoos. Both of my tattoos are Basque. I have a lauburu on my right shoulder and a small map of the baskque country with a heart cut out on the inside of my left ankle. I love them both to pieces and remind me daily of who I am or who it is that I am claim I am or who it is that I want to be. You pick which of those it is. At the end of the day I may or may not be Basque but at least two small parts of my skin are. I guess it my one small way of claiming the identity I want. No one can challenge my tattoos- they are Basque. Hopefully that makes me a little more Basque too.
So where does this leave me? Not sure. At least I have sympathy for anyone who has traveled or lived abroad. You tell me you lived in Rome for a year while your dad worked there and you miss it and want to go back? I get it. Sometimes things just feel right. For you Rome might feel right. For me being Euskaldun feels right.
Ps. Now I just need to learn the language fluently… If you are interested too you can start here http://es.wikibooks.org/wiki/Euskera but you need to speak Spanish first 
Apartment for rent!
June 22, 2010
So here is the apartment we have for rent…. and the description I have put up on craigslist.
One bedroom apartment for rent. It is the top floor of a two story duplex. Small kitchen with stove (fantastic 3 year old gas stove!) and fridge. All brand new windows. Clean and bright. Access to a lovely landscaped back yard.
Water and electricity included. You pay your own gas (for stove, hot water, and heat).
Close to bus lines. Owners (a super chill late 20s married couple) live on site. So if you run out of sugar while baking a cake you can always knock on our door.
Our last tenant was here for four years and we treated him like family. Looking for someone who is low key, easy to get along with, and tidy.
We will allow one kitty and, perhaps, a small dog. This can be negotiated.
Give me a call and come and see it. Available July 1 (maybe sooner) on a month to month.
Kimmy
541-521-3803
Door to the apartment
Entryway seen from the far corner of the living room
Taken from the door when you walk in
Little bedroom!
Closet and door to bathroom
Bathroom
Tub.... yes it is short.
Kitchen with awesome gas stove.
Our garden and the view from the apartment door. Lovely...
Officially in Business!
April 22, 2010
Yesterday I officially launched the beta release of TheMightyList.com, a free classified ads system.
I have spent the last year developing the site and preparing for our launch and now that we are here, I couldn’t be more excited. Over the next few weeks I will be tweaking and adjusting the website as we gain more and more users. I also have some new features in the works to help us stand out. More on that later…
I have a request for all of you reading this. I am searching for Beta Users and I want you to be among them. The Mighty List needs a strong set of dedicated users who can post once a week and spread the word.
If you think you can help, go create an account. I will appreciate your efforts and look forward to reading your classified listings.
–
Nathan Gustafson
Three and most of four!
August 7, 2009
Yesterday was fantastically lazy. After sitting around all morning we finally wandered down to the beach around 11 am. Swimming, sunbathing, napping and general laziness ensued. Vacation at its absolute best.
We (Nathan, Laura, and I) went to pick up Josep from work, came home, ate lunch, and all took a siesta. If you know me well you know one of my favorite things to do is nap- and nap I did! For nearly three hours
Oh and did I mention yesterday was our fourth anniversary? Well it was and Nathan and Laura had planned a suprise dinner out. We went back to the beach we were at in the morning and got to eat dinner right on the beach. It was wonderful sitting on the beach, enjoying the breeze and watching the moon rise. Pretty much the most perfect day ever. Topped only by the fact that later on that night I got an email from the University of Oregon offering me the job I interviewed for right before leaving for Spain. So perfect day topped off by wonderful news.
Ever get that feeling when everything goes right that something has to go wrong to make up for it? That is how I am feeling…
Today we slept in again (I could get used to this!) and finally headed downtown around noon to meet some friends for lunch. We shopped a bit and had lunch around 2:30 at a delicious bocadillo shop (spanish sandwiches). I had tuna, red pepper and olives and Nathan had tortilla de patata. Delicious.
To help lunch settle a bit we walked to the Picasso museum, by way of la catedral, where I have been many times and Nathan went the last time we here. This time we were just interested in buying some more prints in the gift shop. Luckily Nathan and I make up our minds fast and in about 15 min we picked out four new prints (one for my new office!).
On a side note I am truly struggling with caffeine withdrawls… seriously. One tiny coffee in the morning equivalent to half a shot doesn’t cut it for me. After the museum we stopped to tomar un cafe (have a coffee which also means sit down, chat, and sip a coffee for an hour- another spanish custom I love). Holy cow… one honest to goodness coffee and I was a new woman. I am really addicted and am not sure if I should continue feeding it or take this opportunity to try and wean my body off so much caffeine all the time. We will see…
Now we are just hanging out at home relaxing before going out to see a pretty colurful fountain at 9 ish and then meet some other friends for dinner. I am so excited!
Tomorrow we are headed to San Sebastian and I can’t wait. I am trhilled to go home…
Day two (first real full day)
August 6, 2009
Ok so it is hot… really hot and to top it off muggy. But I will take this hot muggy day over my air conditioned office any day!
We slept in a bit this morning seeing as we didn’t get to bed to till after 2 am. Breakfast was a typical wonderfully simple spanish breakfast of toast and coffee. After we all took our time getting showered and dressed all four of us (Nathan, Laura, Josep and I) went to the grocery store.
Can you be homesick for somewhere you already are? That was how I felt at the store. I was so excited to be in a store full of everything I miss when I am stateside but it made me so sad to think I have to go home. About 10 minutes into the trip I swore to Nathan I was NOT coming home!
After shopping we had lunch around 2:30 then dropped Josep off at work. Nathan, Laura and I headed out to a wonderful park with a maze in it. We got lost, found ourselves, and got sweaty trying to find out way around the maze. Either way it was a blast.
From the maze park we hopped on the metro and headed to the bus station to buy out tickets to San Sebastian for Saturday. Nathan and I were fading at this point since we haven’t adjusted to the reduce caffeine consumption so we headed to downtown Barcelona to get some coffee and squeeze in some shopping.
Once at Plaze de Cataluna we headed to the best and cheapest coffee I know of- McDonals. Now before you judge me let me just say that McDonalds in Spain serve pretty decent espresso and to top it all off for 1 euro you can get a shot of espresso poured soft serve ice cream- perfect for a very hot day.
We then wandered down Las Ramblas (the main shopping area) where there were street performers, open air pet shops, flower shops and the most amazing market where we found both sweet and spicy paprika to bring home with us.
Finally we found our way home around 9:30 and made pizza for dinner. It was still so hot we put down a blanket and at on the balcony where it was a little cooler.
I am so excited to be home… when I took a bite of chorizo earlier today I almost started to cry. Can I stay here? Please?
We have made it!
August 5, 2009
We made and so did all of our luggage!
We left Eugene on Monday at about 6 pm and flew to San Franciso. Nathan and I scarfed down a chowder bred bowl from Boudin bakery and hopped on our 11 hour flight to Munich. Nathan’s little tv screen didn’t work but at least he brought his lap top and got tons of work done. I on the other hand read and slept… and ate alot. I can’t believe how much alcohol they gave us (beer,wine and Bailey’s) and how good most of the food was. As a snack there was a big bin of Toblerone we could just take from. Yumm…
Finally we arrived in Munich where we got the run around. For some reason they couldn’t give us boarding passes in Eugene all the way to Barcelona so we had to go get them in Munich. Luckily we had a four and half hour lay over and we were both in a pretty good mood. After talking to four difference people we finally got our boarding passes. While waiting to get our boarding passes Nathan remarked that he was hungry. The lady helping us suggested we go just outside the airport to the beer garden. You didn’t have to tell us twice. So we had sausage, saurkraut and beer in a beer garden in Munich It was a nice break from all the travel.
Unfortunately we still had one flight left and had to leave the wonderful beer garden. Nathan and I both struggled to stay awake for the 1 hour 45 min flight to Barcelona. Once on the ground we collected our luggage and sprinted out the door to find Laura, Josep, and Javi waiting for us!
So yey we made it safe! We both slept really well last night and are going to run some errands today. Tomorrow is our anniversary and I think we are going to the beach!
On another note Javi mentioned last night that his mom is having some tests done today. Apparently she has a tumor and they are still working out a course of treatment. Please keep them in your prayers.
And we are off
August 3, 2009
Two and half years ago Nathan and I got to enjoy a magical New Years in Spain. We visited friends in Barcelona, San Sebastian and Madrid. Finally after much waiting, and two bouts of unemployment, we are going back. Leaving in about two hours to be precise.
The tentative itinerary is to be in Barcelona from the 4th to the 8th. From the 8th till the 16th ish we will be in San Sebastain/Donostia for Semana Grande. We hope to sit on the beach, watch fireworks, visit with old friends, make a quick run across the French border, and eat lots. We will return to Barcelona the 16th ish and fly back stateside on the 18th.
Check back often as I will be updating from sunny Spain.